Soccer, I mean Football

Abby and Erin decided they liked indoor soccer in Lemoore so much, that they wanted to play fall soccer here in Spain. I'm really proud of how well they did. They tried their best and had a great time, and Abby even scored a goal. Go Bombers!! (That was their team name. What can I say their coach is in the Air Force.)

Playing hard.

Luke got in on the action after they games. Maybe he'll be a soccer player.

Bombers' Team Photo.

Switzerland

Me, my two brothers and mom in front of the old bridge in Lucerne

I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Switzerland and meet my mom and brothers for the Labor Day weekend. I really have to give Patrick the credit here. He gave me the nudge I needed to go and handled everything at home while I was away so I could enjoy this trip.

It was such a great experience to see where my mom was born and the places where so many of my grandma's stories took place. I really felt a connection to the cities, mountains and countryside that I saw.




A view of the Lake and Mountains around Lucerne



Hiking in Appenzell



This is where my mom was born.

Near old town Bern

View of Old Bern from the Rose Garden

My mom and I in front of the famous Zietglocke



I couldn't forget the infamous Kinderfresser. My girls were fascinated and terrified by it.

First Day of School

I wonder what Abby is thinking?

The first day of school can always be challenging. This year the girls had their first day in a new school, in a new country. I was a little worried about how they'd do with so many changes lately, but they did great. They had a great time and love their classes and teachers.

On the first day of school here, they invite parents to come have lunch with their children and I thought I'd go just to make sure things were going okay. I don't know why I was worried, they were doing fine. Plus, I think eating lunch with Mom, instead of friends, was the only down part of their day.

We made the big jump . . .

Well, we finally bought our kids a trampoline. The girls have been asking for awhile if we could get a trampoline and we always told them, "Yes, but not right now, we'll get it later." Later finally came and we bought the trampoline. They absolutely love it! Even Luke who has finally learned how to jump with both feet leaving the ground at one time. Now we just have to make sure that nobody breaks their arm and that our trampoline doesn't blow away. (Yes, you can laugh as I did when I heard someone say that, but a lot of people have had theirs blow away. Wish us Luck.)

Germany

View of the Zugspitze from our hotel. This is Germany's tallest mountain.

With moving and all the changes we'd recently experienced we decided we needed a vacation before school started, so we packed up the kids and took them to Germany. They have a wonderful resort hotel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, called Edelweiss, for military and their families. It was the vacation we needed. There was something there for all of us. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I don't remember any complaining or whining on the entire trip. (Well maybe if I think hard enough, but let's not go there.)

We spent a week there enjoying the cool, fresh, alpine air. So different from the heat of Spain. Don't get me wrong we love the warmth, but a change sometimes is as good as a rest. All of us were sad the day we left and have already decided that we want to go back. Anyone want to join us?

We took a gondola up to the top of the Zugspitze. Here is Patrick and the Girl's on the Austrian Side of the Mountain.



The Kids and I on the German side of the Mountain.

Luke just loved the snow. This is probably the first time he's really played in it.

This is Hohenschwangau, one of Ludwig's castle's that we were able to tour.

Here we are in front, the girls first Castle.



Neuschwanstein Castle. Right across from Hohenschwangau.

We were able to take a horse-drawn carriage to the castle. The girls were ecstatic.



All of us at Linderhof Castle, another one of Ludwig's Castles.

 




The Olympic Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. They held the 1936 Winter Olympics here.



We hiked this gorge called the Partnachklamm. They would cut down trees and send them down river through this gorge. Breathtaking.

Just one of the views. If you look closely you can see the trail we followed.





By far, the three cutest kids in Germany.

More Cute Kids!

I just had to put this one in.

I just had to get a picture of the homes we saw. So different from the ones we are used to, I absolutely loved them.

Ronda



The building look as if they are teetering on the cliffs. It is amazing.

Enjoying some Lunch in the park.

Well we got our house, but we were still waiting to get our stuff and begin the unpacking process. What better way to pass the time than to start seeing the beautiful Spanish towns in Southern Spain. I had heard so many people talk about Ronda, and what a great city it is that I put it on the top of my list, and boy was I glad I did. This city is about 2 hours away in the mountains, well really at the top of the mountains. It's what they call a Pubelos Blancos, a 'white village' because the buildings are all whitewashed and really stand out against the mountains and valleys. It was really a fun place to visit and walk around. I look forward to many more visits here.



We went on a tour of the famous Bull Ring in Ronda, so of course they had to pretend to be bulls.



Erin Practicing her Camera Skills.

Eating Ice Cream! Again!



This is the "New Bridge" in Ronda because it's only a few hundred years old. Really Cool!

Another View of Ronda

Luke was worn out, so we had to take a break in a beautiful plaza listening to two guys playing the guitar. It was wonderful

We stopped at a very eclectic museum that had a little bit of everything. Including a section on the Spanish Inquisition and Witchcraft. Let's just say, I'm glad that's all over.

What's left of the castle wall that surrounded Ronda.

Our New Home

Our house, along with our new European car. A Fiat Punto that makes Erin car sick if we take it long distances.

Well, it only took a month and a half, but we finally got a house. Of course it took another month to get our stuff, but that's another story. I think I learned a few things from this experience. First, we really don't need as much stuff as we think we do to be happy. Second, there is nothing like your own bed. Third, I didn't realize how much I relied on the internet.

We are all thrilled to have our own space and a place to call our own. The view is great and we have plenty of room. Oh, and we are taking reservations for anyone who would like to come visit. You can't beat our rates!

 

View from our front yard. That city in the distance is Cadiz.

Jamon

Here's what they look like at the grocery store.

Part of any culture is experiencing the food. We've been trying different restaurants and different traditional Spanish foods, and I think this is the one Spaniards are most proud of, well at least the one's I've meet around here.

Jamon (remember the 'j' makes an 'h' sound in Spanish) is a type of cured meat. It is pork, but it is nothing like the ham we are used to in the states. It comes from special pigs that live on farms and are fed a diet of acorns, which makes it very expensive. Then after it is slaughtered they air cure the meat for, well I can't remember how many years, but it takes some time. You've got to love it to pay that kind of money. The stores usually have an entire section of these where you can buy a front leg or a back leg, the back leg has more meat making it more expensive. The Spanish just love it. I have tried it a few times, and after eating cured meats in a few other countries I've decided air cured meats are not for me. But if anyone comes for a visit, I'd say it's a must try!



Yes, that is the price in Euro's! Right now we only get .71 Euro's for $1.

Isla Magica

One thing you have to know about Patrick is he loves amusement parks. No matter where we are he can find the closest one and somehow we find ourselves there. Which explains how we got to Isla Magica.

The morning started off kind of rough. We got a little lost, the girls were scared and by the time we got there we were all hungry. To save the day we had to act fast. We got a quick bite and started off in Kiddie land and didn't look back. We even worked our way up to a "Tidal Wave" like ride. The day was a success. Maybe Patrick will be able to make his kids love amusement parks as much as he does.

This and the twirling rum barrels were Luke's favorite rides of the day.